Chapter 18: Very Pleased

The horde covered the sky and earth.

Each one was no smaller than the two that had just appeared.

They were ferocious and malevolent, attacking the students with greedy appetite.

The crowd panicked.

Several upperclassman students turned around, drew their swords, their faces still bearing traces of fear, but their steps were firm and unyielding.

Naruto crouched on the Menos Grande's shoulder, unperturbed.

For other Shinigami, a Zanpakutō that is not suited for group attacks might lack effective means against many enemies.

But Naruto was different...

Currently, apart from the "Tailed Beast Bomb" in his Four-Tails form, the "Nine-Tails" indeed had no group attack capability.

However, he was not short of effective methods.

If one isn't enough, then call out more people.

He threw his sword high into the air.

Naruto raised his hands, joining his index and ring fingers together, forming a cross sign with his right hand vertical and his left hand horizontal.

"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique."

With a puff of white smoke.

Dozens of Narutos appeared on the Menos Grande's shoulder.

They leaped down, chasing the Menos Grande horde, each holding a dark red sword.

In the sky, the man's expression changed.

The anticipated surprise blossomed at this moment.

"The ability of a Zanpakutō?"

"Or is it a new technique?"

He watched Naruto, who remained on the Menos Grande's shoulder and grabbed his sword, raising his hands to form the same cross sign.

Of course, he did not channel spiritual power, but merely memorized the gesture.

"Each one is corporeal."

"Each possesses the same spiritual power."

"But... the overall spiritual pressure intensity hasn't changed, it's distributed among each clone."

"Interesting ability."

With the spiritual pressure reduced, the clones could handle the Menos Grande horde without issue.

However, Naruto struggled against the Menos Grande.

He released the third tail, causing effective damage.

The Menos Grande howled in pain.

Several times, it attempted to tear the sky and summon the Garganta to escape. Whether Naruto or the Shinigami trainees, their spiritual power indeed seemed delicious, but the instinctive sense of danger was enough for it to abandon the food.

But the man orchestrating this drama did not allow it to exit the stage.

He eagerly recorded everything.

"Such immense spiritual pressure."

"Even when divided into so many parts, it can still harm the Menos Grande."

"But..."

"It's still not enough."

"These aren't enough to please me."

He stretched out his hand, personally tearing the sky—as if the theater master, opening the stage for a grand and luxurious performance.

A second Menos Grande was released.

Along with it, another group of Menos Grandes swarmed out like bees, buzzing and charging at the crowd.

The unique rotting spiritual pressure of the Menos Grandes consumed the space.

The crescent moon vanished, shrouded by dark clouds.

Naruto gritted his teeth.

Another Menos Grande was not a big deal.

But...

He glanced sideways at the crowd.

Those people were no longer panicking, perhaps because Naruto's clones were nearby, or perhaps they had become accustomed to the pressure.

Many stood up, drawing their swords, casting Kido, assisting the clones in battle. Though their efforts were minimal, they were not lacking in courage.

Yet, the appearance of more Menos Grandes still brought despair to their faces.

Naruto took a deep breath and raised his sword.

More clones were needed.

Greater spiritual pressure was needed.

He did not favor the Four-Tails form, even though with Urahara Kisuke's developed support seal, he could maintain his own will.

But the feeling of being wrapped in negative emotions was still unpleasant.

The fourth red velvet ribbon split out, enormous and overwhelming spiritual pressure rolling out.

Dark red spiritual power armor grew from his feet.

He opened his mouth and swallowed the sword.

The fourth tail emerged.

The other clones followed suit, transforming as well, and more shadow clones were summoned, pouncing on the Menos Grande horde.

Naruto stood, looking somewhat strange, like an upright fox. He drew another sword and leaped high.

Two tailed beast hands shot out from his body.

Grabbing the heads of the two Menos Grandes.

With a powerful pull.

They toppled like towers, crashing into each other.

In the air, Naruto manipulated the four tails, curving them towards his mouth.

A cluster of spiritual particles quickly coalesced into a pitch-black sphere and was expelled.

It wasn't very large. Naruto, prioritizing speed, sacrificed some power, making it only the size of two fists. It didn't spin and was simply hurled straight.

It collided with the heads of two large Hollows.

The small sphere exploded with a roar, the blast wave rolling out, a gust of wind scattering the dust.

Both of the large Hollows' heads were obliterated in the explosion.

Quick and decisive.

Naruto landed on all fours, then quickly stood up, containing his spiritual power as he recited an incantation—

This was one of Urahara Kisuke's achievements.

It allowed him to suppress his spiritual power.

The fourth tail retracted, its dark red color fading back to a semi-transparent state, while the three tails behind him swayed.

In the sky.

A man reached out his hand, feeling the hot wind touch his palm.

His flat glasses seemed to capture the flash of the explosion.

Was this the ability that wasn't used that day?

Even with such a divided amount of spiritual pressure, it still had this kind of destructive power...

Not a Shinigami, nor a Hollow.

He remembered the incantation.

This would be an effective breakthrough.

"Let's leave it at this for now. They're about to break through."

He waved his hand.

The sky gradually concealed his figure.

"Unexpected events are gems given by the world; they will shine brightly under the sun."

"This time, I am pleased."

"Naruto, will you be pleased?"

Naruto had no time to ponder these words. He dealt with the Hollows while keeping an eye on the sky, worried that a third large Hollow might appear.

But...

The incident subsided.

The Hollows finally knew to flee, opening a Garganta and disappearing.

Those who didn't escape in time were swiftly dispatched by Naruto.

An upperclassman pointed behind him, "Great, the Senkaimon is open."

The floating Ukiyo-e gate spread wide.

As soon as a crack appeared, two figures in white haori rushed out.

Followed by several black-clad figures.

The Hollow's spiritual pressure pervaded the land, making the newly arrived Shinigami tense.

But they soon realized there were only a few Hollows left, being chased and cut down by a blonde boy enveloped in red spiritual power.

"Naruto." Shihoin Yoruichi sighed in relief, calling out.

Her expression was serious as she stared at the dissipating massive corpse not far away.

Another captain turned his head, his blonde hair swinging—Shinji Hirako.

His naturally stern face looked even more intimidating when stern.

He said nothing, glancing at the large Hollow before quickly looking away, then fixating on the man with flat glasses who followed him.

This man had been by his side the entire time.

But for some reason...

Shinji Hirako felt this matter was somehow connected to this man.

"Yoruichi, you're here." Naruto waved after slashing the last Hollow, dismissing his clone.

"A large Hollow?" Yoruichi pointed at the corpse.

Naruto nodded, "Yes, two large Hollows."

"Large Hollows..." Yoruichi's brows furrowed tighter, "Any casualties?"

Unlike ordinary Hollows.

Large Hollows typically don't come to the human world; they only operate in Hueco Mundo, their own realm.

Naruto didn't respond; he didn't know much about this.

An upperclassman beside him grinned, his voice tired but excited, "Luckily, we had Naruto. He not only fought the large Hollows but also helped us fend off the high-level Hollows, at least several hundred. Without Naruto, we might all be dead."

"Some students were injured, but Naruto could heal them in time, saving their lives."

The members of the 2nd Division showed no emotion; they were part of the stealth force.

The 5th Division Shinigami who came with Shinji Hirako were astonished, looking at Naruto in disbelief.

Killing large Hollows...

Protecting students amidst hundreds of Hollows...

Could this still be done by a kid who hasn't graduated yet?

In their hearts, even as high-ranking lieutenants, they weren't confident in such a task.

"No one died."

These words visibly relaxed the two Captains.

This was the best outcome.

"What's with the Senkaimon?" Naruto asked.

Yoruichi shook her head, "Still not clear, Urahara is working on it."

"Let's head back."

"The 4th Division is all set."